Harper, Votto hit, Nats beat Reds 6-2 to split doubleheader

Cincinnati Reds' Joey Votto yells to the Washington Nationals' dugout as he walks off the field during the eighth inning of the second baseball game of a doubleheader at Nationals Park, Saturday, Aug. 4, 2018, in Washington. Votto was hit by a pitch after Washington Nationals' Bryce Harper and Spencer Kieboom were hit by pitches. The Nationals won 6-2. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Washington Nationals' Bryce Harper is checked by trainer Paul Lessard and manager Dave Martinez, right, after he was hit by a pitch during the sixth inning of the second baseball game of the team's doubleheader against the Cincinnati Reds at Nationals Park, Saturday, Aug. 4, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Washington Nationals' Bryce Harper pauses on first base after being hit by a pitch, between Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto left, and Nationals first base coach Tim Bogar, during the sixth inning of the second baseball game of a doubleheader at Nationals Park, Saturday, Aug. 4, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Nationals slugger Bryce Harper got hit by a pitch and soon left the field. Then Reds star Joey Votto got hit and immediately went off — on the Nats.

The second game of a doubleheader turned testy Saturday night after a pair of former NL MVPs got plunked during Washington’s 6-2 win for a split.

In the sixth inning, Harper was hit in the right kneecap by Austin Brice. Harper initially struggled to put any weight on his leg, but ultimately made his way to first base.

But Harper labored defensively chasing after a double by Mason Williams in the seventh and was immediately replaced in right field by Adam Eaton.

“It hurts,” Harper said. “I’ll see where I’m at (Sunday) and go from there.”

In the eighth, Votto was hit for the second time in the game, nailed in the leg by Ryan Madson’s first pitch.

Votto gestured at Madson as he took first base. After being retired on a forceout at second to end the inning, Votto waved at Washington’s dugout, prompting plate umpire Andy Fletcher to warn both teams.

Cincinnati interim manager Jim Riggleman said the Madson pitch “certainly appeared (intentional). The only person who knows is the person who threw the pitch.”

The Reds had six runs and 10 hits against Gio Gonzalez (6-8), who lasted only 3 2/3 innings. He has lost seven straight decisions.

“If I knew the answer to that, it’d be a different outcome,” Gonzalez said of his struggles. “Right now, I’m just trying to battle through whatever I’m going through. Hopefully start catching my breaks. Tide will change.”

Phillip Ervin hit a three-run homer and Brandon Dixon had a solo shot as the Reds snapped a three-game losing streak.

WELCOME

Reds pitcher Jesus Reyes made his major league debut in the bottom of the seventh. He hit Kieboom, the first batter faced, with a pitch before settling down for two innings of scoreless relief.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Reds: Brice was recalled from Triple-A Louisville to serve as the 26th man for the second game. He replaced Harvey in the fifth, hit Harper with a pitch and allowed one run in two innings.

Nationals: Pitcher Stephen Strasburg, put on the 10-day DL retroactive to July 22, is eligible to return, but when he will remains unclear. “Every day, he’s progressing. There’s no real timeline right now,” manager Davey Martinez said. “Hopefully, he’s feeling good enough in the next week or so he can get off the mound, throw a bullpen. We’ll see. He’s definitely progressing in that direction.”

UP NEXT

Reds: RHP Luis Castillo (6-8, 4.98) allowed six earned runs over five innings in Cincinnati’s 13-7 home loss to Washington on March 31.

Nationals: RHP Tanner Roark (5-12, 4.37) is 2-0 in last two starts with 18 strikeouts and one earned run over 15 innings.

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More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

Cincinnati Reds’ Joey Votto yells to the Washington Nationals’ dugout as he walks off the field during the eighth inning of the second baseball game of a doubleheader at Nationals Park, Saturday, Aug. 4, 2018, in Washington. Votto was hit by a pitch after Washington Nationals’ Bryce Harper and Spencer Kieboom were hit by pitches. The Nationals won 6-2. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

https://www.wnewsj.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2018/08/web1_121081915-47ab1c16faed4591afbc3bb56957179a.jpgCincinnati Reds’ Joey Votto yells to the Washington Nationals’ dugout as he walks off the field during the eighth inning of the second baseball game of a doubleheader at Nationals Park, Saturday, Aug. 4, 2018, in Washington. Votto was hit by a pitch after Washington Nationals’ Bryce Harper and Spencer Kieboom were hit by pitches. The Nationals won 6-2. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Washington Nationals’ Bryce Harper is checked by trainer Paul Lessard and manager Dave Martinez, right, after he was hit by a pitch during the sixth inning of the second baseball game of the team’s doubleheader against the Cincinnati Reds at Nationals Park, Saturday, Aug. 4, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

https://www.wnewsj.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2018/08/web1_121081915-0d0f292215fe4d70998af48d095ba2fa.jpgWashington Nationals’ Bryce Harper is checked by trainer Paul Lessard and manager Dave Martinez, right, after he was hit by a pitch during the sixth inning of the second baseball game of the team’s doubleheader against the Cincinnati Reds at Nationals Park, Saturday, Aug. 4, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Washington Nationals’ Bryce Harper pauses on first base after being hit by a pitch, between Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto left, and Nationals first base coach Tim Bogar, during the sixth inning of the second baseball game of a doubleheader at Nationals Park, Saturday, Aug. 4, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

https://www.wnewsj.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2018/08/web1_121081915-3ea5ed55ee164fa4845eeb701a0cbd66.jpgWashington Nationals’ Bryce Harper pauses on first base after being hit by a pitch, between Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto left, and Nationals first base coach Tim Bogar, during the sixth inning of the second baseball game of a doubleheader at Nationals Park, Saturday, Aug. 4, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)